Boxscore

The Cardinals (13-9) have now lost two straight and fallen a game and a half back. Is this the end for them? Maybe they need to change General Managers to stop the losing.

Ian Snell pitched better than expected for the Pirates (9-12). He started things off with a bang, allowing four runs in the first, but settled down after that. In fact, the Cardinals never scored another run. Damaso Marte (1-0) gets the win, while Matt Capps (S 6) picks up the save.

Anthony Reyes (1-1) was tagged with the loss, and I can totally picture Tony LaRussa and Dave Duncan talking to John Mozeliak, saying, “See!” Their dislike of the hurler is odd.

At any rate, the Pirates go for a series win today, sending out Tom Gorzelanny against Joel Pineiro at 7:05pm EDT.

Tonight on the Red Hot Broadcast, the Crack Technical Staff and I record from our first-grade son’s baseball practice at a the diamond behind a local area elementary school. We committed to this multi-tasking because we knew that you’d want to hear, from our own mouths, our discussion of the Reds firing of general manager Wayne Krivsky.

We recorded the podcast before we had a chance to read the discussion here on RHM of the move, but we touch on many of the same points. In this version, though, you get the benefit of the charming sounds of little league baseball in the background.

Leave your thoughts about Wayne Krivsky’s firing on our comment line: 206-600-1734.

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The end of the Kriv-dawg era is upon us. The Reds replaced Wayne Krivsky with Walt Jocketty today. Jocketty, former St. Louis Cardinals GM and personal friend of owner Bob Castellini, was hired by the team as a special adviser before the season.

I’m in a day of meeting hell and can’t take the time to do the proper research on this to form an educated opinion. But, HOLY CRAP! I’d say that does more to demonstrate the team’s desire for change than eating Castro’s contract.

Here’s the article on Reds.com.

Boxscore

The Reds (9-12) rocked the Dodgers (8-12) last night.

Edinson Volquez (3-0) is putting together a nice Cy Young type season so far. Seven strikeouts and one run in seven innings to get the win. Hong-Chih Kuo (0-1) got the loss for the Dodgers.

Despite Volquez’s continued awesomeness, he wasn’t the biggest story from the game. I mean, we expect that from him. No, the real surprise was the Reds offense. It showed up! Apparently, Jerry Hairston, Jr. had been hoarding it down in Louisville. Adam Dunn and Brandon Phillips both homered, while Hairston drove in 3 of his own to let the Reds win easily.

Of course, if I know the Reds, and I do, then this eight-run barrage will probably be a one-time occurrence. We’ll see today when Chris Sampson and the Astros come to town to face Bronson Arroyo at 7:10pm EDT.

Boxscore

No, he doesn’t wear a ruby-quartz visor to contain the destructive energies produced by his eyes, but Xavier Nady continues to have a fine April, like he so often does. Raise that trade value, X-Man!

The Pirates (8-12) scored all their runs in the 6th thanks to two-out hits from Ryan Doumit and Nady, and it was all they needed. Paul Maholm (1-2) got the win and Matt Capps (S 5) got the save. Ricky Nolasco (1-2) got the loss for the Marlins (12-8).

The Pirates, ever full of hope about winning, host the Cardinals tonight at 7:05pm EDT. They send Ian Snell against Todd Wellemeyer.